Tania Winstanley (E-RYT 500)

Asana, Pranayama, Meditation and Anatomy teacher

Tania was introduced to yoga by her Grandmother when she was 16 years old, she hasn’t left her mat since. Now, a master of Classical Hatha Yoga, Tania leads 200, 300 and 500 Hour Yoga Teacher Training Programs all over the world.

Tania is a 500 E-RYT, based in Canada. Tania has been leading Hatha, Ashtanga, Yin, Kundalini, Restorative and Vinyasa Yoga classes for 18 years. She is known for her powerful practice and engaging teaching style. Tania began focusing on Teacher Training in 2010 and has lead over 30 very successful Yoga Teacher Training Programs.

Tania’s yoga teachings are authentically based on The Eight Limb Path of Sri Patanjali. Her style is deeply practical and inspiring. In yoga teacher training, Tania challenges her students, to push through perceived limitations, encouraging them to become able, prepared, confident members of our global yoga teaching community.

“Yoga is a lifelong study and practice. To study and teach yoga is to learn about the self. Each student brings a wealth of life experience and unique gifts; I look forward to this amazing learning process and exchange of ideas.” T

*Note: Tania will be teaching in November 2017 and in February 2018 on Koh Samui, Thailand.

Ash Hope (E-RYT 200)

Pranayama, Asana and Anatomy teacher

Transformative, confronting and empowering are the pillars of how Ash would describe the practice of Yoga. ‘It takes you to your edge and back to the present. You tap into your unlimited potential to become the person that you were born to be.’

Ash is creator of the Ashtanga Yoga Centre in Cairns/ Australia where she runs regular Mysore classes as well as corporate health programs and mentoring sessions for new yoga teachers. On her Yoga journey she experimented with different styles, like Bikram, Vinyasa Yoga, Hatha and was introduced to Ashtanga Yoga in India in 2009 and she immediately fell in love with the practice. Since 2012 Ash has been practicing regularly with Nancy Gilgoff and Manju Jois and she completed the Primary and Intermediate series under Manju’s guidance. Ash has been fortunate to study with senior teacher’s around the world to gain a deeper understanding of the eightfold path of Patanjali’s yoga. On her most recent trip to India she studied at K Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute (KPJAYI) in Mysore under the guidance of Sharath Jois. She also continues her studies with her main teacher Nancy Gilgoff on annual trips to Maui. Ash also enjoys Nada Yoga - the Yoga of Sound - and has studied with Radha Rjani to play the harmonium and mantra chanting.

Ash describes her daily practice as a gift to herself. ‘Step on the mat and become aware of yourself - inside and out. Step off the mat and bring that awareness into your world. This is where the real practice begins.’ Ash loves to teach and finds it extremely rewarding to guide people on their personal journey of discovery and transformation. Her classes reflect her authenticity, connectedness and dedication to yoga.

“I am grateful for the people that walked the path before me and honored to share these teachings with others” ~Ash Hope

Yogi Sandeep (E-RYT 200, RYT 300)

Pranayama, Anatomy, Asana and Meditation teacher

Yogi Sandeep is a Hatha and Ashtanga Yoga teacher. He is excellent at teaching proper breathing techniques (pranayama), meditation (guided, mantra, track or chakra meditation), yoga anatomy and physiology. Sandeep studied Arts at Uttarakhand university in Heridwar from 2016-2018.

He completed his 200 hour and 300 hour Yoga Teacher Training course at Atri Yoga Centre in Rishikesh. He is currently teaching at the Spiritual Yoga School and in Atri Yoga Centre in Rishikesh. Sandeep believes that the most basic principle of yoga philosophy is to be a good person… and the world could use more good people. Yoga is an opportunity to take care of ourselves so that we can better take care of others. It is a physical practice of connecting the breath, body and soul. Yoga is empowering. It takes us out of our heads where self doubt exists and into a place of strength and possibility.

Manfred Suppan (E-RYT 200, RYT 500)

Asana Teacher

Manfred was born on 1st January 1983 in Austria, and have worked as a systems engineer for 12 years after finishing school. In his early 20s he discovered Yoga and Meditation and realized that he wants to develop and continue his Yoga practice & Yoga lifestyle. In 2009 he started travelling and went to South East Asia to get a deeper understanding of yoga and meditation. He spent time in different Buddhist meditation ashrams in Thailand and India, practiced many dynamic meditations at Osho centers, and learnt as much as he could from Yoga ashrams and teachers all around India, always looking for improvement and the best teachers he could find. He spent 1 month in the Shivananda Yoga Ashram in Neardam, South India, intensively learning the Shivananda style of yoga.

Following, he has spent the last 3 years in India practicing with the 5-times world Yoga champion Chetan Mahesh and practicing intensive Iyengar-style Yoga with Usha Devi in Rishikesh, learning a lot about the art of Yoga and its different styles. In 2011, Manfred completed his first 200-hour teacher training program, and in 2014 his 500-hour training program, both teacher trainings in Rishikesh. He believes in yoga as an instrument of a healthy life-style and an art to balance and yoke the body and the mind. He has a focus on Asana alignment and meditation, and practice different forms of modern Yoga styles. Manfred’s goal is to help people attain a happy and healthy life. Currently he teaches in Arambol, Goa. You can check Manfred’s profile on Yoga Alliance by clicking this link.

Amafah Mubashir (E-RYT 200)

Asana and Pranayama teacher, Reiki master

Amafah went to her first Yoga class ten years ago and has not stopped since. Over these ten years, Amafah has deepened her practice on both a physical and mental level. Learning how to use breath while moving was and still is an amazing discovery to her and she finds deep happiness, relaxation and clarity of mind through her practice, all of which she uses to manage the challenges of day to day life. As a teacher, Amafah's intention is to share these aspects of yoga with her students. She provides a space that allows them to welcome whatever arises during their practice whilst feeling safe and understood. Amafah used to work in advertising for a few years before deciding to become a certified Yoga teacher. She was looking for something to fulfill and inspire her. Her practise became her escape and completed her emotionally, spiritually and physically.

Amafah finished her first 200 Hr Yoga Teacher Training with Spiritual Yoga School in July 2015. It was a life changing experience and she has been teaching yoga ever since. She is currently teaching at CORE and MUV gym - fitness centre. She is also a Reiki therapist/healer. She completed her Reiki course with Simon Belcher on Koh Samui (Thailand) and she is happy to offer Reiki sessions to students.

Kayla Nielsen (RYT 200)

Handstand, Inversion and back-bending teacher

is a 28-year-old world citizen, but originally from California. Currently, she is traveling the globe spreading healing light and love through yoga and other philanthropic endeavors. Kayla decided to go through the Teacher Training Program after coming back to the States from a two-year travel. At the time, she was struggling with pretty severe depression and anxiety in the wake of her return "home."

She says: "This training came to me at a beautifully pivotal moment in my life. The experience only further calibrated my inner compass, finally pointing me in a direction that felt fulfilling and just plain right."

Her training focused on Baptiste-inspired Vinyasa (CorePower, Encinitas). However, as much as she loves creating dynamic, & creative sequences; She equally cherishes leading yin practices, and guided meditations, as well.

She is typically classified as an inversion junkie &back-bending queen. This is fair considering how she spends almost as much time on her hands as she does on feet, or with her heart spread open to the sky. Kayla specialises in leading these focused workshops not only out of her love for the asanas, alone; but also for her devotion to the mental and spiritual benefits of these postures, as well.

You can check Kayla's amazing videos and Photographs on her Instagram.

Brittany Lyonette (E-RYT 200, RYT 300)

Asana , Pranayama and Anatomy Teacher

Brittany first started practicing yoga in 2008 after a friend brought her very first class in Vancouver, Canada and she’s been hooked ever since. Having always been active and interested in fitness and sports, what attracted Brittany to yoga in the beginning was the beauty of the physical practice of asana, moving from one form to the other in an expression of physical strength and control. As her practice deepened Brittany’s passion and belief in the healing effects of yoga, not only on the body but also on the mind, inspired her to become an instructor.

In 2013 Brittany moves to the UK where her yogic path started to take form. She completed her 200hr Hatha teacher training under Laura Gilmore at Bristol City Yoga in 2014, and had since went on to complete her 300hr Vinyasa teacher training at Sampoorna Yoga in Goa, India in 2016.

Brittany teaches Hatha, Hatha Flow, Vinyasa, and Yin Yoga, as well as Pranayama and Meditation to all levels of students. Creating her own unique and dynamic sequences, she incorporates aspects of meditation, pranayama, bandas and mindful movements into every class. Brittany always strives to create a warm, welcoming and safe environment for her students so they can learn, laugh and play whilst enjoying the healing and calming effects of yoga.

Leah Sugerman (E-RYT 200)

Anatomy and Asana Teacher

is a yoga teacher, writer and passionate world traveler. From Leah's very first encounter with yoga, she was hooked. She fell in love with the pure dichotomy of the practice: the stark contrast between the strength and power compared to the grace and surrender. She enjoys the beautiful dance between the two extremes that happens on (and off!) her mat every day. Leah has been a passionate, dedicated practitioner since her very first class.

A grateful student of her vastly knowledgeable teachers, Leah teaches a fusion of the styles that she has studied with a strong emphasis on breath, alignment and the sacred balance between effort and ease in the practice. Her classes find equal emphasis on strength building of the mind, body and soul, as well as flexibility of the same.

When Leah is not teaching, she can be found practicing handstands in the sand, finding magic and eloquence playing with words or traveling to far ends of the globe with her mat in hand.

Ram Vakkalanka (E-RYT 200, RYT 500)

Philosophy teacher

Ram is an internationally known authority on Nada Yoga, Sanskrit and Vedic Philosophy and Sciences. He was born and brought up in India steeped in Yogic culture and tradition. Ram belongs to the lineage of Dattatreya. Musically, Ram belongs to the lineage of Sitar Maestro Ravi Shankar. Currently based in Canada, Ram travels all over the world sharing his deep knowledge of Sanskrit, Yoga philosophy and Nada Yoga. Ram's articles have been published both in print as well as on-line.

His talks are broadcast both on Radio and TV. So far, 18 CDs and one DVD of Ram's works have been released with a book on its way. Ram is a good story teller and puts ancient philosophy in modern perspective. Ram's teachings are always close to the original text and explain the rationale as well as the inner meaning of it. Ram's style of teaching is smooth-flowing, humours and filled with real-life examples.

*Note: Ram will be teaching in November 2017 and February 2018 on Koh Samui. Read more about our upcoming courses by clicking here.

Jessica Blackmun (RYT 200)

Teaching Assistant

Jessica's intention in life is serving others and living her truth through yoga and healthy living. For Jess, really living means going after the adventure that is life while spreading light and joy everywhere.

Jessica has been practicing yoga for more than 6 years before she finished her first 200 Hr Yoga Teacher Training in September 2016. She has been teaching Yoga friends, family and small groups and she is looking to expand her knowledge and soak up as much experience as she can through work shops, teaching, additional training and what ever other opportunities open up!

Jessica started her Instagram as a way to track and share her progress as her yoga journey and lifestyle evolved so did her social media channels. She has also started doing Instagram consulting to teach others how to build their brand and social media presence. She is also co-founder of Journey Era. Her responsibilities included collaboration organization, content creation (writting, photography, and concept creation), brand marketing, social media scheduling, and anything else that came up!